Stepladder



R. W. SHANNON ET AL STEPLADDER Filed May 13, 1922 IN VEN TOR. FALPH W SHANNO/v fmfflmv E 524/05R51 Dec. 25, 1923.

Patented Usa 25, 1923.

SANDER'S, OF LOS GATOS, QALIFOBNI.

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Application filed May 13,

To all whom t may concert,

Be it known that we, Rainer; IN. SHANNON and CHARLN E. SANnnns, citizens of the United States, residing at Los Gatos, in the county of S ita Clara. and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stepladders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in step ladder construction.

The principal object of this invention is to produce a step ladder which will be light but strong.

Another object is to provide means whereby the steps of the ladder will be braced one to the other.

Another object is to provide means whereby a single leg serves to support the ladder against backward movement without dispensing with any of the strength or rigidity of the ladder.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a step ladder constructed in acordance with our invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, partly broken away in order to better illustrate our invention, and o Figure 3 is an enlarged detail cross-section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In constructing step ladders for use in places such as orchards, it is to an advantage to have but three legs on the ladder in order that the same may rest upon uneven ground without being wobbly. The elimination of one of the legs from the standard type of step ladder tends to produce a weak structure, and it is to overcome this weak structure that we have devised our ladder by suitably bracing the single leg so as to secure rigidity at its point of engagement with the ladder proper and we have further reenforced the steps, thereby preventing breaking as is common with the plain cross steps.

By now referring to the drawings, it will be noted that the numerals 5 and 6 designate the usual side pieces of a step ladder, while the numerals 7 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13 refer to cross steps secured between the side peces 1922. iSerial No. 560,692.

5 and 6. These cross steps are preferably attached to angle iron braces as shown at 14, which braces are likewise attached to the side pieces. In order to prevent the sides from spreading away from the cross pieces, we provide cross rods 16, which cross rods are mounted directly beneath each cross piece. These rods may be either riveted in place or secured in any other convenient manner as shown here by a nut 17.

At 18, we have shown a step brace from one step to the neXt adjacent and being provided at one end with a nut 19 threaded thereon, and at its opposite end with a hooked portion 21, which is adapted to engage the step through which it protrudes. At the same time, this hooked portion 21, prevents rotation of the rod while being tightened.

A head 22 is placed upon the upper ends of the side pieces 5 and 6 and is of common construction. Directly beneath this head and engaging each of the side pieces 5 and 6 are U shaped band iron members 23 and 24,

-respectively A pivot bolt 26 eXtends between the band iron members 23 and 24 and passes therethrough.

'The numeral 27 designates a leg, which leg is secured upon the pivot bolt 26 as is best shown in Figure 3. Washers 28 are placed upon the opposite sides of the leg 27 at a point where the pivot'bolt passes through the leg. These washers are adapted to be contacted by spacers as shown at 29, which spacers are mounted upon the pivot bolt 26. Between the extremities of the spacers 29 and the U shaped band iron members 23 and 24, are brace members' 31 and 32 respectively. These braces are bent to-ward each other and are secured to the leg 27 as by a bolt 33.

It will thus be seen that by this construction, we have braced a single leg to the upper extremity of a step ladder and in such a manner that it will be free to pivot without losing its rigidity. It will also'be noted that a person Stepping on the forward portion of one of the steps will transmit part of his weight to the next adj acent step with the result that longer life will be given to each step.

Having thus desoribed our invention, we claimzo In a step ladder, substantially parallel side pieces spaced one from the other, Steps secured between said side pieces, a brace between each pair of adjacent Steps at each end thereof, each of said braces having one end extendng through one of said Steps at a point near the rear edge thereof, and bent so as to engage the upper surface and said real' edge of the step, the opposite end of each of said braces extendng through the next lower step and a nut seeured to the lower, end of each of said braces and eontacting the under surface of sadlower step and a pvoted leg eentrally mounted between the upper ends of said side peces. i

In testmony Whereof, We affix our signatures. w w

RALPH W. SHANN ON CHARLAN E. SANDERS. 

